As Xinyi Daoyi took the reins, his knuckles inadvertently brushed against the girl's warm palm. He lowered his eyes to gaze at the pony, barely taller than his shoulders. A hint of helplessness tinged his cold features, yet he mounted the horse with a deft, silver stirrup. His wide, moon-white brocade robe draped across the horse's back, creating a rather inappropriately cute appearance.
"Jiang Songyi!" Jiang Jinzhao grabbed his sister's wrist and lowered his voice, "If the prince gets into trouble while riding the Marquis's horse, the emperor will blame him..."
"So what?" Jiang Songyi shook off his brother's hand and looked at the man on horseback with a burning gaze. "With me here, I will definitely not let anything happen to Master."
The girl's resolute voice struck Jiang Jinzhao's heart like a hammer. He watched his sister run toward the prince, and suddenly remembered the time he'd taught her horseback riding when she was ten. The little girl had fallen and gotten bruised, yet she'd still stiffened her neck and said, "I can do it myself." Now, she only had eyes for this unexpected mentor.
Su Sheng suddenly stretched his neck to look around: "By the way, didn't Jiang Yihuan return to Beijing? Why can't I see him?"
"If you want to find the Third Young Master Jiang, you should go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion." Jiang Songyi's voice suddenly turned cold. "Now he is Hao Yuyao's brother. What does he have to do with my Zhenbei Marquis Mansion?"
A sudden gust of wind blew through the stables, carrying grains of sand that swept across the hems of everyone's clothing. Xin Yidao gently stroked the pony's mane, her gaze fixed on Jiang Songyi's majestic white horse. A tall, imposing man riding a pony made him look like a child wearing adult clothes.
Jiang Jinzhao watched it all unfold, and suddenly felt a bitter taste in his throat. The girl he'd carefully raised wouldn't even glance at him, while shielding others from his own. The autumn breeze, carrying the distinct scent of hay from the horse farm and mingling with the fragrance of osmanthus wafting from afar, couldn't dispel the knot in his chest.
Jiang Songyi stroked the white horse's neck and smiled, "I carefully selected this rouge. Does Your Highness look docile?"
Xin Yi looked at the girl's cheeks, which were red from the sun, and curled her fingers slightly in her sleeves. "It's not bad."
"Jiang Songyi!" Su Sheng came over, whipping his horse whip. "A guest is a guest. Why don't you pick a good horse for me? I'm tougher than my cousin and can tame any fierce horse!"
"Isn't Young Marquis Su in a hurry to find my third brother?" Jiang Songyi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "The Fourth Prince's Mansion is at the third intersection of East Street."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
